Melania may follow Michelle Obama's example and play active role in Trump's bid to regain presidency in 2020
Although Melania Trump has been known to take a page out of her predecessor Michelle Obama's playbook quite a few times in the early days of her husband's presidency - her RNC opening night speech in 2016 being a notorious case in point - she has since moved onto building her own individual legacy as a first lady by focusing on her style statements and educational campaigns such as "Be Best."
She has also consciously stayed away from active politics or lending a hand to her husband in important policymaking. All of that could be changing as the mother-of-one gravitates toward playing a more involved role in President Donald Trump's bid to regain the Oval Office in 2020.
Just as Michelle had become her husband Barack's secret weapon when it came to campaigning during both his terms, Melania is all set to host a fundraiser in Beverly Hills on March 18 and an event in Mar-a-Lago on March 25, according to invitations obtained by Politico.
"I'm looking forward to campaigning and fighting for Americans and our great nation. Thank you very much," the first lady is seen telling the president's supporters at aTrumpettes event at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night in a video posted to social media.
Will Melania take the Michelle route?
Michelle Obama became known as Barack's not-so-secret weapon when it came to winning elections. Both in 2008 as well as 2012, the 'Let's Girls Learn' campaigner stepped up to the plate and toured around the country attending various fundraising events on behalf of her husband.
Even Barack's campaign manager, Tim Messina, could not stop praising the former first lady at the time. "The first lady is able to play a unique role as an ambassador for the president," Messina said in a statement to CBS News. "She was an enormous asset to the president traveling the country in 2008, and she's playing just as critical a role in 2012."
A May 2012 Gallup poll showed her with a favorability rating of 66 percent, which was 14 points higher than her husband's rating in the same poll. The popularity among the masses - even bipartisan support - is also why the roles played by first ladies in recent years in their husbands' campaign have been indispensable.
In a 2012 'Nightline' interview, Michelle opened about being front and center at the DNC to highlight the president's vision for the country. "I tell people, my job is easy, talk about the man I love and why I love him and our values," she said. "There is nobody that is less satisfied and knows that there's more to do than my husband. Yeah, there has been a lot accomplished but Barack, of all people, knows that there's still folks hurting and there's still work to be done."
Melania's advantages
Although Melania is often perceived to have a shy public presence, it hasn't reduced her popularity among Republican voters. According to a 2019 Gallup Poll, which crowned Michelle as the "Most Admired Woman" for the second year in a row, Melania was the top vote-getter among Republicans, at 11 percent, placing in the second rank overall.
According to Daily Mail, Melania could play a key role in Trump's campaign by using her influence on women voters and in key swing areas in Midwest states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin.